Hoyer Calls on President Bush to Repudiate Rove's Vicious and Divisive 9/11 Remarks

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) made the following statement today on the House floor calling for President Bush to repudiate the remarks made by his chief political advisor Karl Rove:

“Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, the President’s top political advisor, Karl Rove, stated (and I quote):

‘Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers.’

“This statement is offensive, divisive and patently false.

“Three days after those barbaric attacks, this House voted 420 to 1 to authorize the President to use (quote) “all necessary and appropriate force” (unquote) against those responsible.

“The Senate passed the same measure 98 to zero.

“I do not know whether Mr. Rove’s statement was calculated to exploit collective national pain for partisan political gain – although his slash-and-burn track record speaks for itself.

“But Mr. Rove should apologize and retract it.

“And, the President of the United States – who represents not Republicans, not Democrats, but all Americans – should repudiate it today.

“The President came to office saying he wanted to change the tone in Washington. Today, he can demonstrate that he meant it.”

THIS FLOOR STATEMENT MAY BE VIEWED ON THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC WHIP WEBSITE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: